Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Joseph's New Favorite Toy

I don't know which he will like the better:  the chainsaw or the new snow blower.

This thing is huge!  It has an electric starter, headlight, and all sorts of speeds.  It is the Cadillac of all snow blowers.  A dear friend, Karen Henkel, who is moving west sold it to us and admonished us to also do all the neighbor's driveways too - just as they had done.  AND to go with the new toy, we have a hat to remember a wonderful man who lived a life of selfless service, George Henkel, as we clear our driveway and those around us.  Thank you Henkels!  We won't let you down.


Monday, August 25, 2014

Our little Strawberry is 5 months old!

Each child has a nickname from Joseph.  KateLyn has become the Strawberry.

 

And this is how she sleeps: right hand's index and middle finger in her mouth with face smashed into the mattress.

Monday, August 11, 2014

Sadie's LOVE of vegetables


Too bad this picture doesn't have sound because Sadie is screaming a bloody panic.  We couldn't help but laugh hysterically.

Day-cation, Summer 2014

Its rare, very rare.  We had a Saturday that we didn't have any big projects (or a list of little ones) to do.  So we have a family fun day!

It started with stacking wood.  Joseph arranged us all in a fireman line and we passed a log from one to the other.  Sadie was HILARIOUS and so dramatic.  "Whoa! This a heavy guy!" she would grunt out with her face in a heave-ho expression.  Oh it was perfect.  We worked together and everyone was happy.

Next, Joseph got out the chainsaw (his favorite toy) to cut down a dead tree in the back yard.  We, the girls, were on rope-duty to make sure the tree didn't crash down on the shed.  I didn't realize how intense that job could be.  And the shed is still intact.  :)

Joseph then took the girls down the street to the circle so they could practice riding bikes.  While they were gone, there was lots of repetition of using brakes.  Regardless of all the practice, when Avannie got onto our street that has a slight down-hill slope, she panicked, forgot the brakes, and knicked the parked car in the driveway that sent her flying into the pear tree.  Helpless, Joseph was walking behind pushing Sadie on her bike, all the while hollering for the neighborhood to hear: "Use your brakes!  Use your brakes!"  Incredibly, Avannie only came out with a few good scratches on her leg.

Then we all loaded up and went to the library.  Besides four new musicals to introduce my girls to, we came home with Beginner's Spanish (we are taking the challenge from the Bishop to learn Spanish to better help our missionary efforts), and loads of books and two books on tape.  Quite successful.  Finally the girls and Joseph can continue reading the Little House on the Prairie series.  Both girls have been begging for it.

Next was lunch and naps.  Ahhhhh.  Nothing like a good Saturday afternoon nap for the whole family.  Joseph woke up earlier than the rest of us and instead of getting something done, he sat on the porch eating graham crackers and having a self-reflection/spiritual moment.  I was so proud of him for doing that!

Once everyone was up, we loaded the bikes and roller blades and headed to the Rail Trail and Avannie did GREAT!  She loved riding her bike fast.

After getting home, eating dinner, and tubs for the girls, we settled in and watched Matthew Brodrick's The Music Man.  He is a great Ferris Bueller, but he is a really good Harold Hill too.  It was great!  Even Joseph enjoyed it.

It was a perfect day - probably in my top 10 days!

Sadie calls her hairdo the "Fruit Snack Hair."  Strange, yet so cute!


 

Missionaries

We have loved having the missionaries in our home so often in the last 2.5 years.  Here are two of our favorites.  Elder Spears and Sister Hyoung.

 

Tomato Season

Look at ALL of these delicious tomatoes that greeted us we came home from camping!


Monday, August 4, 2014

First Batch of Raspberry Jam


Our raspberry bushes have become a jungle.  But its so yummy!  I made my first two batches of jam with them.  The first batch is always made to be seedless.  Why?  Because I make it as a special treat for my mother-in-law.  And because its really just for one person, this year I wisened up and used baby food jars and other little jars for her.  That way, when she leaves, our family doesn't devour her jam before she comes again.  Individual sized!

Soon the blackberries will be ready for picking!  Hooray!

Friday, August 1, 2014

Come downstairs to find...


Its always a gamble when you leave little girls awake when I take a quick shower.  But today I was so pleasantly surprised!  I found all three of the playing with the doll house and everyone was happy!  No screaming, no crying, and no super big messes.  Avannie did a great job keeping everyone smiling!